FOOTBALL AND SOCIETY

Abstract

"Football is not a matter of life and death. Its much more important than that"- so said Bill Shankly, famous football manager. Non-football fans will dispute this statement and one cannot fault them for their sentiment. Yet, it is undeniable that football arouses passions like no other sport. This thesis is not a discussion on the finer points of the game and it is not about winning or losing. Rather, it seeks to explore the often neglected aspects of football- the origin of the game and the socio-economic orientation that has underlined the game since. The thesis then seeks to identify the various groups and organizations that were responsible for the introduction of the game in Singapore. The thesis will indicate that football has had an elitist orientation with the identification of the game with the colonial elites. Singapore was a segregated society where the different socieites were to identify themselves according to communal lines. Football in Singapore was to reflect such identification and segregation with the advent of communalism in football. Society is not static but changes. Similarly, the nature of football changes with society. The advent of independence and subsequent changes in government policies was to create a fundamental change in society. The government efforts at eradicating communalism in society will be analyzised using football as a case study. To conclude, the thesis will identify the latest developments and trends in football and shows what such changes means for football and society. Throughout it all, the thesis will strive to show that football is reflective of society and the nature of football is dependent on societal bias and the various undertones that shape society-whether governmental policies or internal and external influences. Football thus presents an alternative way of looking at, and studying society.